Cristian Chivu is ready to face the challenge at EURO 2008!
June 4, 2008 – 5:35 am | by admin
After an eight-year wait, the Romanian football player is ready to lead his country’s football team into their EURO 2008 campaign. Romania last graced the finals of a major tournament in 2000, when they reached the knockout stage of EURO 2000 before Italy ended their involvement with a 2-0 win. Ironically or not, Romania will face Italy again, but not only! Group C features two other tough football teams: the Netherlands’ team and France’s team.
But despite all this toughness, and thanks to his inside knowledge of Italian football, as a FC Internazionale Milano and former AS Roma player, Cristian Chivu is confident and optimistic.
“It’s been a long time since we were in the final of a major tournament but we are looking forward to the challenge,” defender Cristian Chivu said following his side’s first training session at FC St. Gallen’s AFG Arena. “We have a young side who did well in qualifying for these finals, so we go into the games without fear,” Chivu optimistically stated.
Although both Italy and France will have to play without key players, Fabio Cannavaro and Patrick Vieira respectively, Chivu was sympathetic with them. “It’s a shame for them to miss a major tournament like this and I’m especially sorry for my friend and team-mate Patrick [Vieira],” said Cristian Chivu who also confirmed he had shaken off a shoulder knock. “It could happen to me, it could happen to anyone,” the Romanian football player also added.
However, Romanian fans’ hopes are likely to have risen because of the news regarding Cannavaro and Vieira.
Cosmin Contra, Chivu’s mate, promised too to deliver good quality football. “France are a great team, but not invincible,” said Cosmin Contra. “We will show them respect but we don’t fear them,” he added.
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